Chapter 224

After Seon left Vorbuk heaved a sigh of exhaustion and headed for the king's room to get some rest. The more he learned about how his enemy was acting the more reason he found to rid himself of any guilt in his decision. In fact Cista had not been the only place that was struck by a dragon that had been enraged by the god, Chynir. It was only one location of several.

Opening the chamber doors he entered his new bedroom. The Theapan Palace would become his new home in the future and the king's chambers were now his own place of rest. While entering he could see Prince Leo already waiting for him by sitting on the king's bed.

"I'm sure this was the king's chambers." Vorbuk retorted at the sight of the prince waiting for him.

The Prince looked at Vorbuk as the man returned to his wolf form in front of him before responding. "Should I continue to sleep elsewhere when we've already remained together this whole time?"

"I think you're the only person who would let himself into a king's chambers because he was scared to sleep alone." Vorbuk teased the prince as Ashley could no longer understand what was being said between the two of them. The vampire did not question what was being spoken. Closing the door he remained outside the room. It felt strange to Prince Leo that Ashley did not try to remain in the same room and left quietly.

He never quietly leaves.... Is he up to something? Vorbuk also noticed the strange way that Ashley was acting around him that night. His instincts were telling him that something was wrong with Ashley. Having too many things on his mind he decided to ignore that feeling he got for the night. It would never be to late to ask Ashley questions about his behavior the next day. That was the thought that crossed his mind as the wolf walked over and jumped onto the large bed.

"He's still bothered that things have been dragging out." Prince Leo said to the wolf as it climbed into the bed and curled up on one side. His hand reaching out to stroke the top of the beast's head. "He's seemed very on edge these past few days."

"I know he's been uncomfortable lately." The wolf responded as he felt the prince was speaking something obvious. He had noticed how strangely Ashley had been acting since they captured the king and brought him to the palace. The vampire didn't like things that posed a threat to Vorbuk's life. He felt the longer the previous king remained alive the more threat he was to Vorbuk in the long run. Vorbuk was not foolish either and knew that it was dangerous for the king to remain alive so he could not complain about the vampire feeling uneasy about it.

"Have you decided what to do with the king?" Prince Leo asked the same question everyone wanted an answer to.

The problem was Vorbuk could not decide for himself. It was difficult to make a decision on how he should handle the previous king's execution. There was no easy method to execute the man who was the princess's father.

Damn, I can't keep delaying this. I know that. He thought to himself with a low growl.

"Vorbuk," Prince Leo thought about something before asking, "what would you do with Ashley if he did something reckless without us knowing?"

"What are you talking about now?" Vorbuk's ear twitched as the wolf growled deeply at those words.

Prince Leo felt uncomfortable as he thought about how Ashley left the room without a word. It made him want to get up and go look for him to see what that vampire was up to. Though he knew Ashley would not do anything to harm the wolf.

"I just have a strange feeling about him lately. It feels like he is thinking about something and he isn't telling you about it. That guys not exactly the soft type that he pretends to be." Prince Leo didn't miss the chance to add in his own insult.

"Yea," The wolf sighed. "I never said he was."

"You-" Prince Leo wanted to tell Vorbuk, You have no idea!

"He wont do anything that could harm me so there is only a limit to what he can do on his own. I will ask him about it tomorrow and make a plan to deal with King Luke. He's not exactly wrong that I've dragged this out longer then I should have.." Vorbuk's mind began to wander at the end of his words. The more he thought about it the more his stomach felt uneasy. It was true that Ashley was limited in the ways he could act out against Vorbuk. But that did not mean it was impossible for Ashley to do something on his own. There was a limit to how much Vorbuk controlled Ashley's actions.

Even if Prince Leo wanted to deny that Ashley had been acting strange he found it hard to. He knew better then anyone that Ashley hid his true self in front of Vorbuk. If the wolf had realized Ashley was only pretending to be kind in front of him there was only an extent to how far he could imagine the difference in how the vampire treated the wolf and others. Prince Leo on the other hand had personally experienced the difference many times.

Meanwhile neither of them were aware at that time just how correct their assumptions were about Ashley. He had indeed been feeling bothered about something. That was due to the fact that King Luke had still been kept alive and his master was hesitating. Ashley knew that Vorbuk understood that the former king needed to be dealt with but his master's heart was wavering because of the princess.

Step. Step. Step.

Every step he took was quiet as Ashley intended to come and go without a word. Opening the door with a creak, he entered the room. The air was cold as the place was not heated very well. In front of him he could see the person he expected to sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on his desk and dagger in hand.

The only person that would notice where he was going was, "Aoki."

"Ashley?" Aoki's pink eyes filled with confusion to see Ashley coming to the prison so late at night. "What are you doing here so late?"

I don't recall hearing anything about this vampire coming tonight... Aoki pondered why Ashley was standing inside the prison. He knew Ashley was always next to his master's side. His body winced slightly as he felt a slight pain in his chest. The motion was so feint that it would be difficult for another to notice the pain Aoki still felt from his servants mark with Vorbuk. It was not enough pain to kill him so he managed to live with it.

"I've come to speak with the previous king." Ashley spoke honestly to Aoki.

Aoki's brow twitched as he retorted, "Have you lost your mind? Do you think you're the only one that would get in trouble over something like this?!"